U.S. patent application number 10/726281 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for healthy pet appropriate food and drink table.
Invention is credited to Little, Cynthia L..
Application Number | 20050115508 10/726281 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34620488 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050115508 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Little, Cynthia L. |
June 2, 2005 |
Healthy pet appropriate food and drink table
Abstract
An elevated pet feeder with removable easily cleaned food and
water containers which fit into a table platform structured in a
pet specific size and shape made of natural wood material of a
heavy weight with heavy legs to hold the feeder in place while the
pet eats and drinks. The table surface comprises indentations,
which enable the pet's neck to be positioned adjacent to the food
and water containers.
Inventors: |
Little, Cynthia L.;
(Marathon, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald W. Meeker
Patent Agent
924 East Ocean Front #E
Newport Beach
CA
92661
US
|
Family ID: |
34620488 |
Appl. No.: |
10/726281 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/61.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 5/0114
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/061.5 |
International
Class: |
A01K 001/10 |
Claims
1. A pet feeding table device to provide a healthy pet specific
easy bowl access eating and drinking environment for pets, the
device comprising: a pair of round open top stainless steel
containers for receiving pet food and water therein, the stainless
steel containers being scratch-free, easy cleaning and durable,
each of the containers having a top circular opening sufficiently
large to permit a head of an appropriate size and type of pet to
fit into the container for eating and drinking and inwardly sloping
sides to permit easy access to everything in the container, each of
the bowls having a protruding lip extending outwardly from the
circular opening; a pet table eating surface comprising a thick
slab of elongated wood for a natural non-toxic eating surface, the
wood structured in a pet specific shape for a specific size and
type of pet, the pet table eating surface supported by four heavy
thick rigid legs securely attached below the pet table eating
surface, the legs sized for a particular size and type of pet, the
pet table eating surface having two round spaced bowl openings
holes in the pet table eating surface structured to receive the
pair of bowls therein, each of the holes sufficiently large to
permit one of the pair of containers to be inserted therein with
the protruding lip contacting the pet table eating surface to
retain the container in the hole, the pair of bowls easily
removable for cleaning by pushing up each of the pair of bowls
through the holes, the pet table eating surface having a pet table
eating surface width and a pet table eating surface length
extending beyond the bowl openings a sufficient distance to
accommodate a rigid attachment of the four legs spaced apart from
the bowl openings with the legs positioned outside of the
containers on both the pet table eating surface width and length to
provide a broad support base so that the pet eating table is not
easily tipped over by the pet, the pet table eating surface having
at least one indentation in the pet specific shape intruding into
the pet table eating surface to a point immediately adjacent to
each one of the containers to provide a close pet access space so
that a neck of the pet is positioned immediately adjacent to the
container for easy access to the contents of the container.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the pet specific shape of the pet
table eating surface comprises a dog bone shape of a specific size
coordinated with specifically sized containers and specifically
sized legs for a dog of a specific size, the pet table top
comprising rounded expanded bone ends at each of two ends of the
pet table top to receive two legs at each end, the at least one
indentation comprising an indented elongated straight bone center
portion between the rounded ends of the bone shape enabling the
positioning of a neck of a dog to be positioned immediately
adjacent to each of the pair of containers along a portion of the
straight bone center portion.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the pet specific shape of the pet
table eating surface comprises a fish shape of a specific size
coordinated with specifically sized containers and specifically
sized legs for a cat of a specific size, the pet table eating
surface having a fish tail portion extending outwardly from the
bowl openings to receive two of the legs attached thereto and a
fish head portion extending outwardly from the bowl openings to
receive two of the legs, the indentation comprising at least one
first indented portion between the fish tail portion and a center
fish fin portion enabling a neck of a cat to be positioned adjacent
to one of the pair of containers and at least one second indented
portion between the fish head portion and a center fish fin portion
enabling a neck of a cat to be positioned adjacent to the other of
the pair of containers.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the pet table surface is formed of
a thick heavy weight piece of wood and the legs are formed of thick
heavy weight pieces of wood so that the pet feeding device is
sufficiently heavy to remain in a stationary position while the pet
eats and drinks.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to pet feeding apparatus and
in particular to a pet feeding table dispensing both pet food and
water and structured to a pet appropriate height and configuration
for pet health and convenient access.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] It has been found that the health of a dog, cat, or other
such pet can be improved by providing a feeding position which is
raised above the ground or floor. This reduces or eliminates the
need for the dog to position its head downward during feeding.
Among the benefits of an elevated feeding position are that the pet
swallows less air during feeding. Moreover, pets suffering from
arthritis can feed with reduced pain. Overall, an elevated feeding
position provides a more comfortable and convenient as well as a
healthy feeding position.
[0005] While there are structures known in the prior art which
provide an elevated position for a feeding vessel, these structures
have many significant disadvantages. The disadvantages include
feeding vessels which are fixed to the support structure or to the
floor, or feeding vessels which have curved bottom surfaces. These
types of feeding vessels are inconvenient to fill with foodstuff,
such as pet food or water. Moreover, such feeding vessels cannot be
placed on the ground or floor for use separate from the support
structure.
[0006] Feeder apparatuses of the prior art have included many
different designs. For small animals, a feeder apparatus may
include non-removable feeder vessels which are typically molded
into a one-piece feeder apparatus of approximately 2-3 inches in
height. Obviously, a feeder apparatus of this size does not require
legs for support but does not provide adequate height for healthy
eating.
[0007] Many prior art pet feeders are fabricated of synthetic
materials, such as plastic. These synthetic materials are
fabricated of materials which may be unhealthy for the pet to
consume if a piece of the feeder is chipped off and eaten and some
of the synthetic materials also give off unhealthy gases. Some of
the synthetic materials, especially if they become scratched are
difficult to clean. They are also lightweight and tend to move
around as the pet is trying to eat.
[0008] For larger animals, those requiring a feeder apparatus
having a height of six inches or greater, feeder apparatuses of the
art tend to be large structures with legs for support or of a
multi-piece box design. A feeding apparatus with foldable or
adjustable legs tend to have support problems. Thus, in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,509,376 it is taught a feeding apparatus for larger animals
wherein the legs are hollow to allow ballast to provide support,
which requires filling up the legs with water or sand or something
else that can be poured in for weight. In some structures, the unit
may have foldable legs to provide a reduced "footprint" of the
feeder assembly for shipping or display. Such detachable or folding
legs tend to become unstable during prolonged use.
[0009] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,376, issued Apr. 23, 1996 to
Tsengas, depicts an animal feeder assembly that provides food and
water at an elevated position from a support surface and is
therefore particularly suited for feeding large dogs in a manner
which avoids digestive and posture problems associated with feeding
such animals from containers positioned at the level of the support
surface. The feeder assembly comprises a feeder tray and a
plurality of hollow legs releasably attached to the feeder tray.
Each of the hollow legs are capable of holding ballast material
such as sand or water for lowering the center of gravity of the
assembly relative to the support surface, thereby enhancing the
stability of the assembly and inhibiting the animal form
transporting the feeder assembly from the preferred feeding
location. The tray and legs are preferably made of blow molded
plastic and the tray is formed to include a closed interior cavity,
each of which facilitates cleaning the assembly. Each leg is
releasably attached to the tray and may be releasably locked to a
receptacle formed in a bottom surface of the tray.
[0010] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,487, issued Apr. 3, 2001 to
Quinlan, shows an improved elevated animal feeder apparatus that
provides food at an elevated position to provide a more comfortable
and healthy feeding position for animals. The animal feeder
apparatus includes a support structure having removable feeder
vessels. The support structure is of a unitary molded plastic
construction and is configured for nested stacking with like feeder
assemblies for convenient and compact storage and handling. The
base of the top surface of the support structure is generally
oblong in shape with flared side surfaces to provide support. The
top surface has openings for receiving feeding vessels. A preferred
feeding vessel has a raised back surface to act as a back splash.
The raised back splash may also include a notch for easily removing
the feeding vessel form the support structure for filling and
cleaning the vessel. The feeding vessel has a novel shape, having
the outline of a bone.
[0011] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D446,611, issued Aug. 14, 2001 to
Gunter, claims the design for a height adjustable dog and cat
feeding table with removable feeding containers.
[0012] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,114, issued Jul. 1, 1958 to
Grant, describes an improved multiple dish racking, supporting and
serving stand susceptible of feasible use when feeding house pets,
for example, cats, dogs and the like.
[0013] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D424,759, issued May 9, 2000 to
Sipka, discloses an ornamental design for an elevated, adjustable
height dog feeder. The dog feeder has recesses in the top created
to receive removable bowls.
[0014] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,723, issued Aug. 30, 1977 to
Fitzpatrick, indicates an animal feeding apparatus particularly
suitable for feeding large dogs such as Great Danes, includes a
table having angularly disposed legs which support the table top in
a substantially braced position above a floor surface and at a
feeding level which may be chosen with reference to the normal
height of the animal to be fed. Container means located in the
table top provides for holding a serving of dog food in a raised
position. A cover element is formed with hinge means along one edge
of the table top and is movable into a position to overlie the top.
The cover element is recessed to receive the container means
therethrough in an upwardly projecting position when the cover is
closed, and portions of the container means are engaged between the
cover and top so that no displacement of the container means takes
place during the feeding period.
[0015] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D377,244, issued Jan. 7, 1997 to
Steininger, illustrates the ornamental design for a pet dining
table, showing an elevated feeding bench with two recesses for
holding the pet food and water dishes.
[0016] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D293,947, issued Jan. 26, 1988 to
Younker, concerns the ornamental design for an elevated pet feeder,
wherein the pet feeder is made of wood. Two recesses are created in
the top surface of the feeder for holding bowls. A novel design of
a cat's face is placed on each end of the pet feeder.
[0017] What is needed is an elevated pet feeder with removable
easily cleaned food and water containers fit into a table platform
structured in a pet specific size and shape made of natural
material of a heavy weight with heavy legs to hold the feeder in
place while the pet eats and drinks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
pet feeding and drinking table having a pet specific shape (bone
for a dog and fish for a cat, both sized for different sizes of the
pets) with the bowls and legs sized appropriately for pet size and
type with indentations in the pet specific table shape which enable
the pets to position themselves immediately adjacent to the feeding
bowls.
[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
elevated pet feeder with removable easily cleaned food and water
containers fit into a table platform structured in a pet specific
size and shape made of natural material of a heavy weight with
heavy legs to hold the feeder in place while the pet eats and
drinks.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
elevated pet feeder, which by raising the containers up from the
ground provides a comfortable and healthy feeding position, in
which the posterns and spinal alignment are protected and the pet
swallows less air while eating.
[0021] One more object of the present invention is to provide
bowls, which are preferably stainless steel to be highly scratch
resistant and durable and easily removed for washing and easily
replaced with food and water in them.
[0022] In brief, a pet feeding table device provides a healthy pet
specific easy bowl access eating and drinking environment for pets.
The device comprises a pair of round open top containers (feeding
and drinking bowls) for holding pet food and water therein. Each of
the containers has a top circular opening sufficiently large to
permit a head of an appropriate size and type of pet to fit into
the container for eating and drinking and inwardly sloping sides to
permit easy access to everything in the container. The opening of
each bowl has a protruding lip around the edge, which holds the
bowl in place when positioned within the opening of the pet table
surface. The containers are preferably fabricated of stainless
steel for easy cleaning and durability.
[0023] The pet table surface is formed of a thick heavy weight
piece of wood and the legs are formed of thick heavy weight pieces
of wood so that the pet feeding device is sufficiently heavy to
remain in a stationary position while the pet eats and drinks. The
elevated pet feeding table device is structured with a pet specific
shape (bone for a dog and fish for a cat) and is sized for specific
sizes of pets. The bowls and legs are also sized appropriately for
pet size and type. The pet specific shaped pet table surface has
indentations, which enable the pet to position itself immediately
adjacent to the feeding bowls.
[0024] An advantage of the present invention is that the food and
water are elevated.
[0025] Another advantage of the present invention is that the
feeder will remain stationary as the pet eats.
[0026] An additional advantage of the present invention is that the
pet may readily position itself close to the food.
[0027] One more advantage of the present invention is that the
shape is pet specific.
[0028] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the
size is pet specific.
[0029] A further advantage of the present invention is that the
height is pet specific.
[0030] Still another advantage of the present invention is the
bowls are removable.
[0031] A final advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a comfortable and healthy feeding position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] These and other details of my invention will be described in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and
in which drawings:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double removable bowl pet
feeder for dogs with a pet table eating surface having a bone
configuration indented adjacent to the bowls for easy pet access to
each bowl and showing the bowls aligned for insertion in the
openings in the pet table surface;
[0034] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a smaller size for smaller
dogs of the double removable bowl pet feeder for dogs of FIG. 2
with a table top having a reduced size bone configuration, reduced
container size, and reduced size legs;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a double removable bowl pet
feeder for cats with a table top having a fish configuration
indented adjacent to the bowls for easy pet access to each
bowl;
[0036] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a smaller size for smaller
cats of the double removable bowl pet feeder for cats of FIG. 2
with a table top having a reduced size fish configuration, reduced
container size, and reduced size legs.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0037] In FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, and 2A, a pet feeding table device 20A,
20AS, 20B, and 20BS provides a healthy pet specific easy bowl
access eating and drinking environment for pets. The device 20A,
20AS, 20B, and 20BS comprises a pair of round open top containers
24A, 24AS, 24B, and 24BS for receiving pet food and water therein,
which are preferably stainless steel for easy clean up and scratch
resistant durability. Each of the containers 24A, 24AS, 24B and
24BS has a top circular opening 28 sufficiently large to permit a
head of an appropriate size and type of pet to fit into the
container 24A, 24AS, 24B and 24BS for eating and drinking and
inwardly sloping sides 29 to permit easy access to everything in
the container 24A, 24AS, 24B and 24BS. Each of the bowls 24A, 24AS,
24B and 24BS have a protruding lip 19 extending outwardly from the
circular opening 28, as seen in FIG. 1.
[0038] The device 20A, 20AS, 20B, and 20BS also includes a pet
table eating surface 21A, 21AS, 21B and 21BS that comprises a thick
slab of elongated wood structured in a pet specific shape for a
particular size and type of pet, such as a small, medium or large
bone for a small, medium or large sized dog, as in FIGS. 1 and 1A,
or a small, medium or large fish for a small, medium or large cat,
as in FIGS. 2 and 2A.
[0039] The pet table eating surface 21A, 21AS, 21B and 21BS is
supported by four heavy thick rigid legs 22A, 22AS, 22B and 22BS
securely attached below the pet table eating surface 21A, 21AS, 21B
and 21BS. The legs 22A, 22AS, 22B and 22BS are sized for a
particular size and type of pet, such as the small, medium and
large size legs 22A and 22AS for small, medium and large size dogs
in FIGS. 1 and 1A, and the small, medium and large size legs 22B
and 22BS for cats in FIGS. 2 and 2A.
[0040] The pet table eating surface 21A, 21AS, 21B and 21BS has two
round, spaced bowl openings 23 in the pet table eating surface 21A,
21AS, 21B and 21BS that are structured to receive the pair of bowls
24A, 24AS, 24B and 24BS therein. Each of the openings 23 are
sufficiently large to permit one of the pair of containers 24A,
24AS, 24B and 24BS to be inserted therein with the protruding lip
19 contacting the pet table eating surface 21A, 21AS, 21B and 21BS
to retain the container 24A, 24AS, 24B and 24BS in the opening
23.
[0041] The pet table eating surface 21A, 21AS, 21B and 21BS has a
pet table eating surface width and a pet table eating surface
length extending beyond the bowl openings 23 a sufficient distance
to accommodate the rigid attachment of the four legs 22A, 22AS, 22B
and 22BS spaced apart from the bowl openings 23 with the legs 22A,
22AS, 22B and 22BS positioned outside of the containers 24A, 24AS,
24B and 24BS on both the pet table eating surface width and length
to provide a broad support base so that the pet eating table 20A,
20AS, 20B and 20BS is not easily tipped over by the pet.
[0042] The pet table eating surface 21A, 21AS, 21B and 21BS is
structured in a pet specific shape appropriate to the size and type
of pet. The pet table eating surface 21A, 21AS, 21B and 21BS has
indentations 25A and 25B in the pet specific shape intruding into
the pet table eating surface 21A, 21AS, 21B and 21BS to a point
immediately adjacent to the containers 24A, 24AS, 24B and 24BS to
provide a close pet access space so that a neck of the pet is
positioned immediately adjacent to the container 24A, 24AS, 24B and
24BS for easy access to the contents of the container.
[0043] In FIG. 1, the pet specific shape of the pet table eating
surface 21 A comprises a dog bone shape of a specific size
coordinated with specifically sized containers 24A and specifically
sized legs 22A for a dog of a specific size. The pet table top 21A
comprises rounded expanded bone ends 26A at each of two ends of the
pet table top 21A to receive two legs 22A at each end. The
indentations on either side of the pet table eating surface 21A
form an indented elongated straight bone center portion 25A between
the rounded ends 26A of the bone shape 21A, which enable the
positioning of a neck of a dog to be positioned immediately
adjacent to each of the pair of containers 24A along a portion of
the straight bone center portion 25A.
[0044] In FIG. 1A, the pet feeder device 20AS is a smaller size for
smaller dogs and comprises a pet feeder table 21AS having a reduced
size bone configuration, reduced container size 24AS, and reduced
size legs 22AS.
[0045] In FIG. 2, the pet specific shape of the pet table eating
surface 21B comprises a fish shape of a specific size coordinated
with specifically sized containers 24B and specifically sized legs
22B for a cat of a specific size. The pet table eating surface 21B
has a fish tail portion 26T extending outwardly from the bowl
openings 23 to receive two of the legs 22B attached thereto. The
pet table eating surface 21B also has a fish head portion 26H
extending outwardly from the bowl openings 23 to receive two of the
legs 22B. An indentation in a first edge of the pet table eating
surface 21B comprises an indented portion 25B between the fish tail
portion 26T and a center fish fin portion 27 enabling a neck of a
cat to be positioned adjacent to one of the pair of containers 24B
and a second indented portion 25B between the fish head portion 26H
and a center fish fin portion 27 enabling a neck of a cat to be
positioned adjacent to the other of the pair of containers 24B. The
opposite second edge of the pet table eating surface 21B also has
an indentation that comprises two indented portions 25B, one of the
indented portions 25B positioned close to the rim 19 of the each of
the containers 24B, enabling a neck of a cat to be positioned
adjacent to one of the pair of containers 24B.
[0046] In FIG. 2A, the pet feeder device 20BS is a smaller size for
smaller cats and comprises a pet feeder table 21BS having a reduced
size fish configuration, reduced container size 24BS, and reduced
size legs 22BS.
[0047] The pet table surface 21A, 21AS, 21B and 21BS is formed of a
thick heavy weight piece of wood and the legs 22A, 22AS, 22B and
22BS are formed of thick heavy weight pieces of wood so that the
pet feeding device 20A, 20AS, 20B, and 20BS is sufficiently heavy
to remain in a stationary position while the pet eats and drinks.
The containers 24A, 24AS, 24B, and 24BS are preferably fabricated
of stainless steel for easy cleaning and durability.
[0048] In practice, a pet owner chooses a pet feeding table device
20A, 20AS, 20B, or 20BS to match the species and size of their pet,
for example a small cat would require the smaller fish shaped
feeder 20BS, seen in FIG. 2A. The pet should be able to access the
food containers 24A, 24AS, 24B, and 24BS without having to lower
their heads. The bowls 24A, 24AS, 24B, and 24BS are placed into the
holes 23 and the pet food and water is then placed inside of the
bowls 24A, 24AS, 24B, and 24BS. When the feeder 20A, 20AS, 20B, and
20BS is placed on the floor the pet feeder surface 21A, 21AS, 21B,
and 21BS is the appropriate height for the size and type of pet and
the pet can get immediately adjacent to the bowls 24A, 24AS, 24B,
and 24BS. When the pet is finished eating the bowls 24A, 24AS, 24B,
and 24BS, which are preferably stainless steel are easily removed
for washing and easily replaced with food and water in them.
[0049] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *